July 16, 2018

Present:  Board President Greg Robitaille, Vice President Cathleen Albrecht.  Board Members:Carol Ducommun, Keith Dronen, Marc Glucksman, Lori Goldstein, Patrick O’Donoghue.

Administrators:  Superintendent Paul Sally; Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Christopher Johnson; Secretary Superintendent Lindsey Ruston; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Peter Tragos; Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Timothy Hayes; Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Joanne Panopoulos, Principal (Winnetka) Denise Dubravec; Principal (Northfield) Paul Waechtler.  
Absent: None

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:  None

Information Items:

Teacher Evaluation Overview and Update--Peter Tragos reported on the professional culture at New Trier.  This dense report covered the methods of developing and evaluating teachers.   New Trier values formative and evaluative feedback and supporting development and growth for every teacher at each stage in their career. Every non-tenured teacher is evaluated yearly and tenured teachers are evaluated bi-annually. Board discussion focused on incorporating student feedback, coaches evaluations, time spent on teacher evaluations, and assessment categories for teachers.  

Treasurer’s and Financial Reports--Chris Johnson submitted snapshot reports for June, last month of FY18; he expects to be on budget for fiscal year. Highlights included increased interest income ($500,000) as interest rates rise (now over 2%).

Board Policy--First Reading
Transfer Credits Toward Graduation Requirements.  Changes in board policy are in response to the increase in non-district learning experiences. Students are pursuing personalized and non-traditional courses and are requesting these experiences to be included on transcripts.  This pertains to both students who are transferring into NT and current NT students. Changes maintain the district’s discretion for the valuation criteria outside courses.

Visitors To and Conduct On School Property. Changes reflect current practice of  requesting and keeping visitors’ photo IDs.The present system scans the visitor’s  driver’s licence and runs a criminal background check against a sex offender database.  Board concerns about storing information found on ID, the internal security of the visitor management system, options for visitors without government-issued IDs, and the verification of the ID were brought up during discussion. It was determined that this policy was not ready for a second reading and would go back to the policy committee for more discussion.  

Voting Items

Tentative 2019 Budget-- Chris Johnson presented the Tentative Budget for FY19 to the Board for review and approval in September.   School districts must adopt a budget by the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year. The budget takes into consideration  historical expenditures, state legislative changes, staffing levels and enrollment trends. Currently there is a net increase of 42 students for the 2018/19 school year. The Tentative Budget for FY19 is balanced with a surplus of $594,000 in Operating Funds per Mr. Johnson.
Unanimously approved. Final budget to be presented for approval at September meeting.

Campus Security Expenditures-Chris Johnson
Phase 1 of Campus Security Plan has two capital expenditures of over $50,000 which were not previously approved and now require Board approval.  

Shatterproof film installation (both campuses)                   $205,000
Secure vestibules at 3 entrances (Winnetka Campus)        $370,000

Board discussion included plans for coverage for all entrance/exit points (dozens at both campuses), the role of campus security officers and SRO’s, and the ultimate goal of integrating all surveillance systems.  

Unanimously Approved.

Consent Agenda: Bill List for the Period, June 1 - 30, 2018, Personnel Report (Appointments, Change of Status, Resignations, Retirements and Terminations), Construction Change Order #34, Closed Session Records Review,  ED-RED Membership Renewal, Printer, Copier Lease, Technology Network Managed Services Contract Renewal, Technology Network Equipment Service Contract, Board Policies - Second Reading and Approval (2-230), Canvas Instructure Contract.
Unanimously approved.
​
Meeting Length:  2 hours.        Observer:  Siobhan Hill
Next Meeting:  August 16, 2018

​